PISCATAWAY -- Quentin Gause could sense that his Rutgers football teammates needed a break from a stretch of early-morning summer workouts. So the linebacker suggested an afternoon retreat.

So what did the Scarlet Knights do to blow off steam?

They played paintball.

"It's the summertime and we're here, taking classes and working out,'' Gause said. "On the weekends, you got guys from Florida who can't go home on weekends so we try to do an event once in a while to bring everybody together.''

And that's how a group of nearly two dozen Rutgers players came together one Friday afternoon in June, firing pellets of paint at one another for fun.

Quentin Gause is expected to man one of Rutgers starting linebacker positions this season.Aris Economopoulos/The Star-Ledger

"I went paintballing the week before and I was like, 'let me get everybody to come out and do this, because this is a fun experience,'' Gause said. "I got a bunch of the guys out, and it was a great experience. We went against a couple of different groups of people, professionals as well. You do an event like that and it brings everybody together. It really does just bond everyone together like brothers. And that's what creates the family here.''

Djwany Mera was among the Rutgers players who joined in the fun.

"I paintball back home in Florida with my brother so I kind of have experience with it,'' said the Scarlet Knights fourth-year junior defensive end. "I don't consider myself the best guy. I’m pretty good, though.''

Laughing about the experience following a recent training-camp practice, Mera said it didn't take long for his competitive juices to flow once he hit the course.

"I love it competing, it doesn't matter what it is,'' Mera said. "The competition part brings us together. We competed just as we do on the football field.''

With the only difference being a lot more paint was splashed around.

"It was very competitive,'' Gause said. "I've been playing since I was 10 so I know how you gotta play the game. You can't waste your paint when playing. You need to be very smart with your shots. Some guys were unloading and then some guys were acting like military-style, playing strategy. So both sides were good.''